NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The UNC Tar Heels are tapping into the NBA pipeline for their next men’s basketball coach.
After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.
North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will compete for an NCAA title Monday night against UConn. But May withdrew his name from any college race, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger were also reportedly in favor of the Tar Heels.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Head coach Michael Malone applauds on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
But Malone, who has led the Denver Nuggets for the past 10 seasons, is the man they are settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.
Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, totaling 471 career victories during his time there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.
VCU COACH CONGRATULATES STUDENT JOURNALISTS AFTER HISTORIC MARCH MADNESS RETURN: ‘BEST IN THE COUNTRY’
However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but is now back in the saddle in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.
Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have sought another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels hadn’t collapsed against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams staged the greatest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.
“We appreciate everything Hubert did for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he helped create special memories we will never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and everything he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at the elite level.”
Davis, who has appeared in four NCAA tournaments, including the last three seasons, during his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter.
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
“Tonight I was terminated by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue coaching here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, the relationships and the experiences with the kids and my team. I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.”
BILL SELF ANNOUNCES HIS RETURN TO THE KANSAS LINE, SCHEDULED FOR 24TH SEASON DESPITE HEALTH ISSUES
Davis added that he hopes to become a coach “in the very near future.”
Davis, who played for UNC from 1988 to 1992 before being selected in the first round by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with approximately $5.3 million still guaranteed under his contract, according to ESPN.
Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a Final Four appearance as a freshman during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels established themselves as the No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were defeated by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting short their national title hopes. Still, Davis earned the ACC Coach of the Year award that year.
The Tar Heels want to return to the days of Roy Williams, as the legendary UNC head coach led his team to six NCAA titles during his tenure, most recently in 2017.
